Environmental Rules in San Rafael, CA (2026)
5 verified environmental rules for San Rafael, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
San Rafael bans any non-stormwater discharge into its storm drain system under the Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Ordinance, Chapter 9.30. Violations are a public nuisance and a misdemeanor or infraction, enforceable by administrative citation, civil action, or summary abatement with a lien on the property.
San Rafael Urban Runoff Pollution Rules
Significant RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 9.30.060
The discharge of non-stormwater discharges to the city's storm drain system is prohibited. All discharges of material other than stormwater must be in compliance with an (NPDES) permit issued for the discharge.
Erosion Control
San Rafael caps graded slopes at 2:1 and retaining walls at 8 feet for new subdivisions, and requires an erosion control plan and city engineer sign-off on drainage.
San Rafael Subdivision Grading & Drainage Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 15.06.110
All subdivisions shall be designed and improved to provide proper grading, drainage and erosion and sediment control. All subdivisions shall comply with the provisions of the Uniform Building Code for design of grading and the conveyance of drainage and stormwater runoff and shall comply with best management practices (BMPs). The following design standards shall be required: (a)Grading. Grad...
Flood Zones
San Rafael requires a floodplain development permit before any construction begins within FEMA-mapped special flood hazard areas, covering the Canal district and other low-lying neighborhoods under Marin County's 2017 flood insurance maps.
San Rafael Floodplain Development Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 18.40.010
A floodplain development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 18.30.020. Application for a floodplain development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the floodplain administrator and may include, but not be limited to: plans in duplicate drawn to scale showing the nature, location, dime...
Boat Dock Permits
Building or placing a pier, dock, wall, bulkhead or breakwater on San Rafael's tidelands requires a City tidelands permit from the Department of Public Works before construction: unpermitted dock work is a code violation under SRMC Title 17.
San Rafael Boat Dock Permits
Significant RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 17.10.030
Construct or place any pier, dock, wall, bulkhead, breakwater or other structure on any of the tidelands designated in Section 17.10.020, except in compliance with Section 17.10.040.
Flood Elevation Requirements
New and substantially improved buildings in San Rafael's mapped flood zones must elevate the lowest floor at least one foot above the base flood elevation, plus predicted 30-year settlement, before occupancy.
San Rafael Flood Elevation Freeboard Standard
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 18.50.010.C.1.a
Residential construction, new or substantial improvement, shall have the lowest floor, including basement, ... In an AE or AH zone, elevated to a height equal to or exceeding one (1) foot above the base flood elevation plus predicted thirty (30) years settlement; said base flood elevation shall be determined by one of the methods on Section 18.40.030 B of this ordinance.
Looking for Marin County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Rafael city rules.
Environmental Rules in Marin County →